EPA regulations require that schools determine whether there are hazardous substances in the products they buy. New products can still contain asbestos, and asbestos contents may not be included on the label. Maryland school officials says they have relied on material safety data sheets provided by manufacturers to make this determination. But in response to a question from the Maryland Department of the Environment, the EPA clarified that material safety data sheets are not sufficient to determine whether there is asbestos in a product. The schools complain that it is unfair to require them, rather than the manufacturer, to go to the expense or determining whether a product contains asbestos. The EPA says that the school is not required to test every product. Instead, it can get a letter from the manufacturer certifying that the product is asbestos-free or they can treat the product as if it contains asbestos and include it in the school’s asbestos management plan. If an untested product is included in the asbestos management plan, however, its presence can complicate and drive up the cost of subsequent repairs or renovations.
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